Nickelback – Some cringe worthy chat thrown in amongst arena filling rock

Canadian rockers Nickelback finally took to the Rockhal stage on Thursday night after their World Tour in which they were to stop off in Luxembourg was postponed last year.

One of the world’s most divisive bands, Nickelback have sold in excess of 50 million albums world wide but yet the slight mention of their name reduces peoples faces to look like they’ve just sucked a lemon. Their blend of soaring pop choruses and frat party rock was never off the airways during much of the 2000s leading to those people who initially enjoyed their music to join the bandwagon of ridicule as the bands overexposure and questionable lyrics meant they were an easy target for most.

Now with less exposure can they go about their work with less negative attention and still please their huge crowds?

First up however was fellow Canadian rockers Monster Truck, ok I’ll admit the name made me think they they were American but the band take plenty from the neighbours. Their southern blues rock is something that doesn’t get pushed much by music media in Europe and especially the UK as it’s treading old ground but their 70s rock groove ticked all the right boxes from the flamboyant guitarist striking a pose in the spot-light with no top on whilst he ripped into yet another solo, to the rasping vocals of the lead singer, they had the classic formula nailed. Only when they tried to throw in a few generic “whoa oh oh” choruses did they lose that edge. Although nothing new, you have to admire that they’ve stuck that 70s rock badge to your sleeve and just let loose.

Then time for Nickelback who came out blasting to “Edge of Revolution” with its industrial rock it had your ears ringing a fair bit, it was loud, very loud and surprisingly heavy too. Here was a band out to rock, they may be lampooned all over the internet but live is where they can get away from all that, although repeatedly asking the crowd to jump up and down and throw up the metal horn kind of devalues the essence of the gesture somewhat.

The frenetic start continued with “Animals” and “Something In Your Mouth” both with some cringingly bad lyrics but delivered with enough energy and verve, you try to let it pass but unfortunately the cringe lyrics rolled over into the chat between songs, talking about getting high and drinking plenty of beer like that slightly drunk uncle at a family party talking to the teenagers trying to sound cool.

After the energetic start it was time for the ballads with “Photograph” trying to evoke the nostalgic days gone by as old photos rolled across the screen. It did however get the crowd singing and swaying along, as did “Hero” and “Trying Not To Love You” which frontman Chad Kreoger announced was first performed live in Luxembourg many years ago.

Their finest moment of the night came during “Karaoke time” where they plucked three members from the audience and brought them up on stage to sing “Rockstar”, it was a real intimate moment between the band and their fans and of course must have been a moment of a lifetime for the three on stage, getting the chance to sing in front of thousands and feel like a rock star.

This took us to their breakthrough single “How You Remind Me” which filled the Rockhal like any good rock song should and even after all these years still produced the power and energy that thrust them into the eyes of the world. As much as their lyrics and stage chat make you cringe there is no denying they still have a fanbase and songs to fill arenas all over the globe and what makes one-man cringe makes another laugh and smile, so each to their own.

Rockhal – 29.09.16

Walking On Cars – drove up with hook laden choruses to den Atelier

Irish indie pop band delighted a sold out crowd at den Atelier on Thursday night with their soaring choruses and heartfelt lyrics.

The latest in a long line of musical talent to come out of Ireland, Walking On Cars look set to continue their rise to fame as the five school friends look to build on the success of their debut album “Everything This Way” which went straight in at No1 in the Irish charts. However, it’s the their single “Speeding Cars” which I presume is the reason so many were there last night with the single receiving plays of more than 30 million on Spotify and landing in the top 20 in numerous European countries.

As the band made their way to the stage there were exuberant screams from the audience with hopeful expectation from their new heartfelt indie pop heroes. Taking clear influences from the likes of Coldplay and Snow Patrol, Walking On Cars follow a path well trodden, as they have honed the soaring hook laden choruses which offer up no surprises but plenty of chances for the crowd to sing along.

It didn’t take long for the crowd to get involved as they were clapping along and swaying to “Two Stones” before the whole room began singing “Hallelujah” back to the band, creating that warm concert vibe as everyone in the room became one.

However, the highlight of the set was “Always Be With You” which ebbed and flowed and took on a different structure to the rest of the songs providing a good change in tempo and energy. But it’s the big sweeping choruses that get the crowd going and “Don’t Mind Me” was no different getting everyone swaying their arms from side to side whilst being swept up in the charismatic charm of frontman Patrick Sheehy, who after touring with the likes of James Bay has all the experience to control the crowd how he likes.

After the encore Sheehy came back to the stage on his own to play “Coming My Way” from their debut EP, with just himself playing keys along with his haunting vocals there was a hushed silence through the crowd as they listened intently. After the solo ballad there was only one way to finish, on their big single “Speeding Cars” which once more had the crowd reaching for their phones and couples embracing each other as they sang their hearts out. It was a rousing finish to a set which didn’t veer too far from their winning formula all night, which became all a bit too generic but hopefully on their next record there will be a few more risks taken as we’ve heard this all before.

den Atelier – 22.09.16

A night of theatrics and electro pop from YEYEY and Walls & Birds at de Gudde Wëllen

Nostalgic electro pop was just one of many genres on full flow last night as YEYEY and Walls & Birds brought an ensemble of sounds to de Gudde Wëllen on Wednesday night.

Having spent 10 years in the much loved but certainly under appreciated Uzi and Ari, who released three albums and were often compared to the likes of Thom Yorke and Mogwai, Ben Shepard has gone out on his own to create a new all encompassing collection of songs that weave the patchworks of his past sounds to a new dynamism.

First up was Berlin based, Brazilian band Walls & BirdsThe who set the tone from start. As the audience waited downstairs for the music to begin a tall slender figure dressed in black magician’s attire, including top hat and small bell walk around each table announcing the beginning of the the show. As the crowd made their way up stairs the announcer walked onto the stage introduced the band and began to slowly strip as the band played a cover of Lana Del Ray’s “Video Games”. As he made it down to just his boxer shorts he calmly slipped into a long black lace dress and picked up the guitar. There was no explanation to this nor the 80s style telephone that sat at the front of the stage but the theatrics brought an intrigue to their set and certainly a few talking points for the crowd.

Fortunately, they backed up the theatrics with the music which veered from psychedelic pop one moment to country the next, then off to swing. As much as their eclectic taste is something to behold their lack of cohesion meant there were certain moments that were lost in the evenings proceedings. They were strongest when they kept to their electro pop with all but the female vocalist proud owners of some excellent 80s haircuts and moustaches, they certainly looked the part. Now all we need is for them to stand next to an old Mercedes and they’d be the set from Deutschland 83.

After an extended set from Walls and Birds it was finally time for YEYEY (pronounced Yee-Yee). Sitting down behind a table with an electric guitar, a Korg synth and laptop resting in front, it was an altogether different visual experience, with less going on onstage Shepard relied on the visuals from the projector to grab the attention of the crowd. Fusing together the textural layers of his sound with refined soulful vocals Shepard is onto a winning combination, bringing with it comparisons of Twin Shadow and Caribou. However, after such an intriguing and exciting set from Walls and Birds his lack of stage presence and minimal sound meant we were left wanting a bit more from his set.

With the electronic dream-pop quality to his sound there is still plenty to admire and enjoy but as some of the audience began to sit on the floor it was certainly more of the easy listening set which would have benefitted from being first on the bill.

de Gudde Wëllen – 14.09.16

Wolf Alice – Living up to the hype

Wolf Alice finally got round to playing their first show in Luxembourg last night as their original concert earlier in the year was postponed due to award ceremony commitments, which just goes to show the kind of year they’ve had.

Having taken the underground scene by storm back in 2012, Wolf Alice became the most blogged about artist of the year, which only added extra pressure as with each self release the attention increased. By the time they finally released their debut album “My Love Is Cool” in 2015 they had already coveted national press and played on the biggest stages in the country, leading to the album rocketing up to number two in the UK charts which is no mean feat for an indie grunge band in the years of solo acoustic acts and dance music. As well as commercial success they also found critical acclaim with Grammy, Brits & Mercury Prize nominations too.

Another band following in their footsteps are London based Gengahr who brought their indie infused sound to the modest Atelier crowd. With some intricate guitar playing along with some interesting chord progressions they certainly had enough to hold your attention although the lead vocals had a slight marmite effect, you’re either going to love it or hate it, initially I did the latter however as the set progressed I grew to find its endearing qualities.

As their set continued the vocals became less of an issue as I was drawn into their craft, especially John Victor on guitar who managed to drag more out of that instrument than I’ve seen in a while. As their set came to a close I could understand why they’ve toured with Wolf Alice so often, even when moments draw from the likes of Animal Collective they still managed to keep it accessible for a wider audience.

After an enjoyable opener it was up to Wolf Alice to keep the momentum going and so they delivered. Opening with the energy we’ve come to expect from them with “Your Love’s Whore” there was that instant unmistakable shimmering 90s nostalgia to their sound which has become their signature and helped them win legions of fans.

Whilst they’re the front runners of bringing grunge to a wider audience it’s their ability to blend it with infectious pop melodies, such as on “Bros”, that have set them apart and allowed for that wider audience to feel part of their gang.

Throughout the night there were moments of sheer pop beauty with the likes of “Freazy” and the punchier “Storms”, before cranking it up on “She” which provided the first mini mosh pit of the night leading into “Moaning Lisa Smile”. Both of these tracks feature on earlier EPs which is a testament to the strength of their debut album that neither featured on it.

They finished the night with the thunderous driving “Giant Peach” which left some at the front to lose their minds one last time. It’s this delicate balance of knowing when to turn it up to 11 that has worked so well for Wolf Alice and having toured relentlessly for the last three years it will be interesting to see when they will finally get some time off to write the follow-up.

den Atelier – 30.08.16

All out rock n roll from Eagles of Death Metal

American rockers Eagles of Death Metal look set to continue a life on the road as they played to a sold out den Atelier last night.

The purveyors of good time rock n roll had their lives turned upside down along with many others in a devastating terror attack last year as they played the sold out Bataclan venue which left 89 fans dead.

Since the attacks the audience and band have tried to come to terms with the night with frontman Jesse Hughes coming out with some less than savoury comments about the venues security guards and gun laws which saw the band being dropped by two French festivals earlier this year. However you take Hughes’ political views it’s best to leave all that at the door as when you enter his world of warm sweaty venues like Atelier last night; it’s here where he shines.

As he walked onto the stage with red suspenders and sun glasses whilst sporting the oversized moustache, you knew that this is not a man that does things in half measures, his larger than life persona filled the venue as much as the music itself.

As they delved into their back catalogue of songs from 2004’s opener “I Only Want You” to last years “The Reverend” it’s clear this band are in no hurry to shack up the genre in any way, their lyrics are full of humour and sleaze, and they ensure their good time jams continue with a groove as Hughes is always one for a good dance and some classic rock star flirting.

Holding the attention of anyone who dared engage him directly, which seemed to be quite a few of the audience, he would throw some posses their way and some winks or two, this was proper rock stage craft right here. After the first couple of songs they already had a bra thrown on stage and one of the crowd managed to catch a plectrum with their forehead to the sheer delight of all on stage.

The consummate frontman, Hughes would go off on amusing short anecdotal rants about the band members in a southern American preacher style as if he was saving our souls with the power of rock n roll before finishing each story with “And that is why I wrote this next song”.

There weren’t just smiles and laughter coming from the crowd but the band all looked to be having a good night too, if Hughes wasn’t laughing at his own stories he was dancing away and grinning from ear to ear.

Finishing the main set on “I Love You All the Time” the catchy 50’s doo wop-style track backed by crunching guitar it’s hard to not sway along. After the encore Hughes came back to do a few numbers on his own including an a cappella “I’ll Blow You a Kiss in the Wind” which he dedicated to Nick Alexander who was part of the crew on that fateful night in Paris as well as everyone else who lost their lives.

It must be quite a horrifying experience to get up on stage each night in the same environment of their most troubled memory and perform but they know how to keep it light hearted as they finished up with a cover of Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream” before “I Want You So Hard” and then “Speaking in Tongues” which saw Hughes make his way to the balcony playing the solo from just above the sound desk with the crowd clambering for their phones as they finished with one last trick to put smiles upon all the sweaty faces.

Eagles of Death Metal aren’t a band that are here to change the face of music, they are all about having a good time and if that is what you want then look no further. Even now after being associated with such tragic events it’s good to see that they’re trying to move forward and see the humour and light in the world that some cannot.

den Atelier – 23.08.16

Glittersberg + Edsun prove there are plenty of innovative and exciting bands right here on our doorstep.

With Congés Annnulés coming into its final days the last “We Have Bands” evening took place last night, which showcases the best of contemporary Luxembourgish music, and last night it was the turn of Glittersberg and Edsun.

Initiated by M&R Rockhal to compose a piece for the 24 Heures Electroniques event last year, Glittersberg – who consist of electronic producer Sun Glitters and classically trained cellist Lisa Berg – brought together an amalgamation of their two genres with such success that they have continued with the project with some stunning results.

Last night’s show in Rotondes’ big room, with its half-moon seating arrangement allowed the audience to sit down, relax and enjoy Glittersberg’s blend of minimal electro beats interchanging with the cello as it meandered its way through the groove bringing with it its own element. This collaboration continues to evolve into one of the most innovative and exciting projects around, and whilst there might not be a stage show as such from the artists, it’s left to the projected visuals on the big screen behind to provide the imagery to take you into your own dreamlike state.

Another local act making a name for himself recently is Edsun, a former dance student of the Conservatoire of Luxembourg, who brought all aspects of his artistic force to the stage last night. With his passion for dance it shouldn’t have been much of a surprise just how much it has influenced his music and stage show, as it was as much a contemporary dance piece as a smooth R&B show.

With carefully choreographed dance routines along with two other dancers his music pulsated and shifted tempo from smooth R&B to edgy melancholic pop, along with some driving bass hooks, it had plenty to keep you intrigued throughout.

Having seen a couple of videos of Edsun prior to the show I had my expectations however I was pleasantly surprised how well he managed to pull it off live. It’s one thing bringing together a visual display on video when you have plenty of time but it’s another all together to bring it together live.

With such an immersive stage show there looked to be no detail left to chance, which was a pleasure in itself. From the dancer’s clothes to the subtle lighting of the three other band members, it felt that everything had been thoroughly thought through and without feeling sterile it was pulled together for a stirring provocative performance.

After last night’s show I think we can add Edsun to an already growing plethora of exciting musical talent coming out of Luxembourg at the moment. Now all we have to do is support what is on our doorstep and hope they get the chance to flourish beyond our borders.

Rotondes – 22.08.16

Iron Maiden – Thrill a sold out Rockhal

Metal heavyweights Iron Maiden returned to Luxembourg last night to the delight of the 6000 strong metalheads at a sold out Rockhal.

Maiden have become a metal institution over the years having sold in excess of 90 million records and toured the world over for decades now, with lead singer and front man piloting them not only on stage but up in the air too.

Last time they played Luxembourg in 2014 the show broke records, selling out the Rockhal in less than 2 hours, therefore the gig was moved to the 12000 capacity site of Rock-A-Field to accommodate the huge demand. This time however, they kept the show at Rockhal with Dickenson commenting “this feels like a club show to us”, having played stadiums and huge arenas for the last 6 months he isn’t far off. Rarely can you say 6000 is an intimate show, but for such heavyweights it is.

Supporting last night was The Raven Age whose sharp vocals and tight performance of modern metal – which should be expected after 6 months on the road – seemed to go down well with the crowd. It wasn’t till later on I found out that their guitarist George Harris is the son of Maiden’s bassist Steve Harris. Well you wouldn’t bring your sons band on a tour of this magnitude if you didn’t think they could hold their own and that they did.

With the crowd suitably warmed up there was an air of anticipation in the audience as chants of “Maiden, Maiden” swirled round the Rockhal, whilst others took to their air guitars as each song of the pre-show music blasted over the PA.

Then with the sound of UFO’s “Doctor, Doctor” coming through we knew it was time for Maiden to make their entrance onto the Mayan inspired stage, with the drum kit set into a huge wall and pyrotechnics and smoke rising from the top, Dickenson carefully ran around as they kicked into “If Eternity Should Fail”.

For a legacy band with plenty of hits over the years, they weren’t afraid to play a large portion of the new album “The Book of Souls”, but they’re one of the few bands that after 40 years are producing as well received records today as they did back in their heyday. With “Tears of a Clown” being a fitting and emotional tribute to the late Robin Williams.

After “The Red and the Black” which was another appreciated track from the new album, the theatrics were turned up a notch as Dickenson came out waving a huge battle weary Union Jack whilst wearing an old style military red coat as they launched into “The Trooper” which provided an instant jolt of adrenaline to the audience.

The red coat wasn’t the last of the costumes, as Dickenson would disappear behind the huge wall after each song only to return with either a Mexican wrestling or monkey mask as on “Death or Glory”.

As well as Dickenson’s theatrics they were joined on stage by their ever loyal mascot Eddie as he walked around causing havoc on stage before he was taken down by Dickenson, it’s all part of the light-hearted and fun touch that Maiden fans have come to love.

After all that they were to finish on a pyro-drenched classic “The Number of The Beast” which got the crowd jumping around and waving the horns in the air before going into “Blood Brothers”.

Dickenson then opened up with a heartfelt speech about the Maiden community, and how they travel the globe playing in front of thousands each night from all different religions to nationalities and everyone respects each other because we’re all one family, we’re the “Maiden family” which of course got a rousing cheer. After such a speech there was only one way to finish, with the irresistible “Wasted Years”, leaving the stage to more chants of Maiden, Maiden.

Rockhal – 02.08.16

Mutiny On The Bounty – A triumphant opening to Congés Annulés

Local math rock favourites Mutiny On The Bounty kicked off the 8th edition of Congés Annulés Festival at Rotondes on Friday night in front of a zealous crowd.

Now in its eight year, Congés Annulés has become the highlight of the summer programme for many music goers in Luxembourg, bringing with it an eclectic collection of artists from all over the globe from modern classical with “Greg Haines” on July 30 to experimental music from “Goat” on August 3, before finishing on August 26 with the trance rock of “Föllakzoid”. Check the August preview for some highlights of the festival.

Starting outdoors from 7pm with a DJ set from Luxembourg based hip hop artists Hokube, the evening had a celebratory feel in the air, maybe it was the excitement of the the night or even month ahead or maybe it was just that it was another fine summers evening, but by the time American producer and drummer NAH kicked things off most of the crowd were still outside.

NAH walked onto the very dimly lit stage and proceeded to make one all mighty racket, the mellow lighting was juxtaposed to the sound as there was a cacophony of sound blasting from the speakers, one minute bringing comparisons to Death Grips with some industrial samples and loops, the next it was Aphex Twin, which at times felt quite abrasive and challenging but the intensity was in some ways cathartic and thoroughly entertaining.

By the time MOTB took to the stage Rotondes had filled all the way to the bar at the back in anticipation of Luxembourg’s foremost band and on last nights showing they certainly deserve that accolade. Their set was full of power and passion from start to finish, I’ve managed to see MOTB a good few times now in Luxembourg and even a show in Glasgow but last night was their finest moment, maybe it was just that Friday night vibe but everything just seemed to click.

When a band can combine complex instrumental sounds into weird complex shapes but still get the crowd going from head nodding to outright head banging they’re doing something right. Through moments of distortion with a fidgety yet brutal groove they blend in the sharp clean guitar sounds which makes the songs feel alive and visceral before deconstructing them only to build them right back up again.

With the lack of a singer in the band they do their speaking through their instruments, be it subtly or with an almighty crash but either way they left the audience bobbing away all set and opened the festival with a bang. If every night could be as busy and as invigorating as last night, then it will be another triumphant festival.

Rotondes – 29/07/16

Old school hip hop back in town with Jurassic 5

More than 20 years on from their inception, Jurassic 5 still look to be enjoying themselves as much ever as they took to the Rockhal stage on Monday night.

Having reformed in 2013 after a 6-year hiatus Jurassic 5 are back thrilling crowds just as they did in their heyday of the late 90’s. J5 were never a big selling hip hop act but they were much loved and brought back an old school hip hop vibe when the genre was becoming self indulgent and all about the bling.

As they opened with “I Am Somebody” each member bounded onto the stage and their infectious energy was palpable. This led to the audience waving their hands in the air (like they just didn’t care) and swaying side to side. It’s that party atmosphere that set J5 apart and it’s clear they haven’t lost any of that fun or charisma over the years.

With all 6 founding members back, this meant DJ Cut Chemist and Nu-Mark were on stage to drop the beats and take the spotlight as they escaped the confines of the decks with an ingenuous playful moment, which saw them walk around the stage with a wearable drum machine as well as a homemade turntable/guitar hybrid, as they had a scratch battle between themselves.

If that wasn’t enough there was even a kazoo solo in their classic hit “Concrete Schoolyard” taking us back to 1998 in the process. The infectious energy of Akil, Zaakir and Marc 7 anchored by the distinctive deep voice of Chali 2na, sustained excitement for the whole show as they bounced off one another literally and lyrically with big beaming smiles throughout, whilst on “Future Sound” the four MCs swapped and overlapped verses with consummate ease.

Unfortunately, on “Remember His Name” they couldn’t quite remember the lyrics but that didn’t matter as they laughed it off and asked the crowd to shout out more suggestions for songs as they delved into some old favourites like “In The Flesh”, which once again got the hands in the air bouncing along.

Old school hip hop comes into its own in the live setting and it was hard to not get caught up in all the excitement flowing from the stage, even if the venue was exceptional warm but hey what better soundtrack to a summers night than good time hip hop.

Having recently released their first new track in over a decade with “Customer Service”, there looks to be more in this reunion than just a fleeting bunch of shows. And with the dark days we’re all going through now, some upbeat old school hip hop is needed more now than ever, so welcome back Jurassic 5.

Rockhal – 18.07.16

The infinite charm of Mac DeMarco

Mac DeMarco made a triumphant return to Luxembourg on Wednesday and delighted the Rockhal crowd with a night of unadulterated joy.

His last appearance in Luxembourg was at Exit07 back in 2013, since then DeMarco has released two critically acclaimed albums and moved on from the lo-fi rock sound to a more polished and accomplished psych pop groove winning him legions of fans around the globe as the poster child of the slacker rock movement.

First up last night was Australian Alex Cameron and as he called him his business partner Roy Molloy on saxophone. Cameron came out wearing a striking silver velvet suit and serenaded us to some programmed beats and synths giving the revitalised 80s sound a nice twist as he waltzed around the stage pulling off some stellar power poses. His dry humour between songs just added an extra element which took us into stand up comedy territory, winning over anyone not so sure about the whole 80s revival.

After a truly enjoyable and amusing set from Cameron, DeMarco and band walked onto the stage along with new bassist Rory McCarthy sporting a fine dress to the comical The Bollock Brothers “Harley David (Son of a Bitch)” song accompanied by images of Kelsey Grammer on the screen above their heads, both of which sum them up quite perfectly and reaffirms this is not a band who take themselves too seriously.

As laidback as his last two albums have been, the songs seem to have taken on a more urgent feel live, maybe this is to add more excitement and energy to the live show but whatever the reason it worked as the jangly guitars and woozy vocals on “The way you Love Her” and “Salad Days” whipped up the crowd into joyous raptures creating a party atmosphere in the room.

With plenty of energy perpetrating throughout the crowd it took to “Another One” to take it down a bit with much of the audience bringing out their lighters and swaying away, even on the down tempo moments they wanted to get involved.

The instrumental of Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ in the Years” took the show into Spinal Tap territory with both guitarists and bassist playing their instruments behind their heads, there are few shows you see people bent double with laughter but last night was one of them, as DeMarco’s infinite charm of this happy-go-lucky, slacker-rock persona managed to convey an intimate and relatable affair for the audience.

Keeping it upbeat, “Freaking out the Neighbourhood” had the jangly guitars and woozy vocals prevalent as usual with DeMarco bringing Molloy from the support back onto stage and asked the audience to help him crowd surf, to which a sea of hands went up and kept him afloat whilst a others in the crowd decided to join in.

Finishing on the relatively slow “Chamber of Reflection” and “Still Together”, the band were joined by Cameron and Molloy as new bass player McCarthy began to thank the band for the tour which then descended into them all hugging and chatting on stage before a theatrical moment saw a few of them collapsing to the floor, no doubt this is a fun tour to be part of, it was certainly a fun one to to witness.

Rockhal – 13.07.16